Funny Man David Brenner Dies After Cancer Battle

The world mourns David Brenner, who is known for his many appearances on “The Tonight Show.”

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This content comes from Closed Captioning that was broadcast along with this program.

>>>there were tributes today to
david brenner
, the comedian who found so much in
everyday life
for us to laugh about and was best known for his appearances on
nbc
's "
tonight show
." 158 of them.
nbc
's joe friar has more tonight on the life of a very funny man.

>> reporter: david brenner
's legendary comedy career spans more than four decades.

>>i can never figure out. how come a dog always confuses my leg to his girlfriend?

>> reporter: that career came lasting only a few months. his
big break
came when he debuted on "the
tonight show
" with
johnny carson
.

>>very clever, somewhat warped.

>> reporter: at the time, brenner had three bucks to his name and didn't think he would stay in comedy. but that night, he killed it.

>>and did you ever notice that the same guy works in every station in america? that character with the hunting cap with the
ear muffs
.

>>everything i made above $3 all these years was due to
johnny carson
.

>> reporter: he hosted "
night life
" and was a regular on "
hollywood squares
."

>>david brenner
.

>>never lost his sense of humor, even while battling cancer. his final request at age 78, that $100 in small bills be placed in his left sock. he said just in case tipping is recommended where i'm going. joe friar,
nbc
news,
los angeles
.